I've been playing this on the side and while initially a bit lukewarm on it, I have come to like it more and more as I play. My initial reception to it had to do with the game presenting itself as a raising simulator, akin to the likes of Princess Maker, as the description of the game states, or like Long Live The Queen. However, I wouldn't really call Mushroom Musume a raising sim so much as it is just a normal sim, albeit barely, and for a bit that was a little disappointing to me. I was expecting something more closer to Volcano Princess. Mushroom Musume feels far more Adventure game than anything else. Like it advertises itself, it's very much a fairy tale in its presentation and prose, being as whimsical as it can be unsettling. Anyway, forget the semantics of what kind of genre it is, I've found the game to be quite enjoyable over time.

Each playthrough loop consists of three phases. As the Recluse, you carry out tasks for the Witch of the Woods which, as you complete, determine the characteristics and appearance of your Mushroom daughter. The 2nd phase consists of raising your daughter from a pot of dirt and will determine further traits. The 3rd and final phase will be from the perspective of your daughter, now all grown up as she ventures into the world to make a name for herself, perish along the way, or simply do... nothing. All this takes around 40 minutes or so, give or take. Again, the loop and premise was rather simple and I couldn't help but feel a little bit let down. However, I've come to appreciate the loop as it's quite nice, relaxing, and comical to go through the life of each new daughter. The 3rd phase consists of a choose your adventure kind of RPG. You go through random events, lose or gain items, stats, etc, and roll a die for certain events. With each playthrough, you will be awarded with a summary of your daughter's life, and earn points based on the events you've seen, music you've unlocked along the way, achievements your daughter has accomplished, and the ending you have attained. Which by the way, there are 64 of. All this gives you points which you can spend to influence what kind of Daughter you may get next playthrough, amongst a few other secrets and tidbits.

Surprise, it's actually a rogue-like. Anyway, I'm having a very good time so far. My first daughter lived a relatively normal and peaceful life, as I played as safe as I could. She ended up going to a fancy gala with a bit of an eccentric Fae scholar she met early on, as well as helping her at said gala to sneak around the estate in search of a mysterious tome. It ended in failure and it seems there is more to that plot thread depending on earlier choices, though I haven't encountered that string of events yet in subsequent playthroughs. Anyway, that all ended with a rather endearing scene between the two of them. Each playthrough, though relatively short, has been rather enjoyable and I'm growing quite attached to it the more I play. The music as well, has been wonderful, aiding in the rather relaxing, mysterious, and sometimes unsettling nature of the game. I look forward to more of what this fungi filled adventure will present to me.